1
as in consecration
the act of making something holy through religious ritual
the sacred site required another sanctification after it had been defiled by the invaders
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in purification
the act or fact of freeing from sin or moral guilt
the Christian belief that the suffering and death of Jesus was responsible for the sanctification of all humankind
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of sanctification
The sanctification of Lee and other Confederate leaders, in turn, pushed the complexities of the surrender and of the Civil War era into the shadows, allowing the myth of Appomattox to flourish for more than a century.
—
Made By History, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
The underlying problem with the West, Mishra argues, is its sanctification of the Holocaust.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2025
The result is that liberal analysts prefer the sanctification of allies and the demonization of rivals to objective and informed analysis.
—Anatol Lieven, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
But Ii her death allows for her sanctification, the film doesn’t quite know how to represent her life.
—Alessa Dominguez, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
This sanctification was a crucial step in including medicine as its own advanced degree program at the first universities that were established around 1200 in Europe.
—Meg Leja, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Nov. 2023
Doing so is not a violation but a sanctification of Shabbat.
—Rabbi Avi Weiss, sun-sentinel.com, 7 Sep. 2021
Made By History, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
The underlying problem with the West, Mishra argues, is its sanctification of the Holocaust.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2025
The result is that liberal analysts prefer the sanctification of allies and the demonization of rivals to objective and informed analysis.
—Anatol Lieven, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
But Ii her death allows for her sanctification, the film doesn’t quite know how to represent her life.
—Alessa Dominguez, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
This sanctification was a crucial step in including medicine as its own advanced degree program at the first universities that were established around 1200 in Europe.
—Meg Leja, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Nov. 2023
Doing so is not a violation but a sanctification of Shabbat.
—Rabbi Avi Weiss, sun-sentinel.com, 7 Sep. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanctification
Noun
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At this stage of his career, Hicks will have been part of many ceremonies; ordination as a deacon and then a priest, consecration as an auxiliary bishop and installation as bishop in Joliet, Illinois.—
Tony Aiello,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
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As a result, the consecration of bishops without papal consent is considered a grave threat to church unity and a cause of schism, since bishops can ordain new priests.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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There is also a temezcal, a sweat lodge used by many Mesoamerican peoples, where guests can participate in a purification ritual.—
John Newton,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Feb. 2026
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Probing matter, antimatter, and supernovae Once one of the cryostats is filled, external pumps will continuously recirculate the liquid argon through a purification system.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Ghoul, who takes a serum to help retain his human memories, hasn’t found salvation or satisfaction in his barbarism, just more pain.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
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Medford may have been her home, but Los Angeles was salvation, a bustling city the young woman arrived in the late summer of 1946 just after her birthday.—
Nathan Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Eid al-Fitr is a joyous time of renewal spent with friends and family after the month of spiritual cleansing, self-restraint and contemplation.—
Lianna Norman,
Florida Times-Union,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Mid-lengths and ends still need cleansing, but indirectly.—
Ana Morales,
Vogue,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sanctification.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanctification. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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